As posted elsewhere I am commencing a 3x 55" 4K TV build also using NLR Flight Simulator Pro for cockpit. I was planning on using the Honeycomb Alpha and Bravo flight controls. However - I cannot seem to source the Bravo anywhere, all suppliers (I am in Australia) have various dates for backorders. I have seen a lot of rumours that Honeycomb is going out of business and I’m now wary of having my entire project de-railed.
As such, I need a plan B. What would people recommend for flight controls if Honeycomb ends up not being available? I will fly a mix of GA and Commercial - first two aircraft will likely be SWS PC-12, and PMDG 737 (this is on MSFS). Grateful for advice - rudder pedal recommendations also welcomed.
If you still want them you can try at Aerosoft shop. They appear to be available:
However you may need to check customs and delivery as they would be shipped from Europe. I guess you would also find other international well known sites that are closer to you.
Alpha still seems to be available locally. Bravo is rarer than hen’s teeth. Interested in other options nonetheless, this is for a decent build so happy to look around.
New stock is not being delivered and retailers seem to be shifting old stock with some discounts. The Honeycomb website is no longer accepting payments, and a post here yesterday suggested that their offices had been vacated.
If you really want their products it looks like retailers with remaining stock is the only option, but I would not expect to be able to access any after-sales services, unless limited to refunds via the retailer.
The Turtle Beach yoke looks to have better availability and service for a similar price to the Alpha / Bravo, or there are higher quality but higher cost yokes available from Virtual Fly (Yoko) or Brunner. You could look to products from Logitech of Thrustmaster instead, and there are many happy users of these although I personally would not, due to the poor quality and life of products I have bought from them in the past.
Interesting, took a look at the VKB rudder. No toe brakes?
I’ve previously had logitech gear - my rudder pedals broke fairly quickly, although the yoke and throttle were ok. I’ll have a look at the Turtle Beach options, thanks. Long term I would look at Brunner but I’m probably already nearing budgetary limits at this point … although I guess I could seek a further appropriation from the Minister for War and Finance
Indeed - no toe brakes, but phenomenal build quality.
They do have a virtual brake axis, but this requires you to activate another control or button and then you can vary the L / R braking force via the pedals or e.g. the joystick twist function. I never managed to get that successfully set up (although plenty of others have), and instead I used a joystick button and later a spare controller axis for brakes when I had the Gladiator NXT. Now I have the Gunfighter / MCGU joystick, and that has a brake axis under your fingers.
The quality of all the VKB products I’ve had has been superb, both in terms of design, build and flying feel, with superior controllability and adjustability compared to the mass-market, entry-level products. Adjustable damping on the axes makes them feel soooo nice, and the configuration and calibration software is incredibly powerful.
A Gladiator NXT Evo would let you fly anything available in MSFS with consummate quality while waiting for the ministry to decide on a yoke…
From VKB I think the real interesting part is the Gunfighter IV joystick (the ultimate edition is full metal) but not the pedals. For pedals you may consider Virpil´s or Winwing´s (they will be released next month). Those vendors also have sticks and throttles. Even Thrustmaster TPR pedals are there but they are more expensive and less flexible than the other options. It´s still a very good and solid product anyway. The Logitech or Thrustmaster cheaper pedals are another option but a no go. They are full plastic and with loose movements all the time.
If you buy combos (several components per order instead of individual ones) you would most likely get discounts. You can also wait for any sales during next months.
Agree with all that. I have a Yoko+, and TQ6+, and they are built like tanks. No need for dead zones on the yoke at all, and the only way they could improve it would be to add force feedback, and full 180 on roll, which for the latter they have done with their Yoko Neo, or whatever they are calling it.
Well after much to and fro I ended up going with the Thrustmaster TFR pedals.
Back to square one on the throttle quadrant though. REALLY annoyed with PBTech. Their website said they had 3 in stock when I placed the order. AFTER I order and pay, they then push the delivery date to 30 Jan. Now it is 5 Feb. I emailed customer support and asked why the delay given they had three in stock when I purchased. I got a bland reply back saying that they are waiting on the supplier, completely ignored my question.
So I will probably cancel this order because they clearly are just like everyone else and will be waiting forever for new stock. Businesses shouldn’t be allowed to accept orders indicating they have stock when they actually have none.
So annoyed. Really wanted the Bravo and it looks like it just isn’t going to be an option.
it won’t help you but the Bravo is still in stock on the german Amazon klick.
But I would think twice before going for the Bravo. I watched a video where someone had opened his Bravo to fix non working thrust reversers and buttons on the levers.
I was pretty disappointed when I saw the innards of the quadrant. All plastic and the routing of the wires (especially those for the above mentioned buttons/reversers) was very amateurish. They are too short and too stiff so they have no choice but to break after some use.
I am flying the Bonanza V35B exclusively so I have no use for reversers or TO/GA-buttons. I will keep my Bravo for the time being but I’m seriously considering making a change to Turtle Beeches VelocityOne Flight.
I am on XBox and I bought the Honeycomb Alpha-XPC and Bravo and ordered the pedals but at some point Amazon told me they had cancelled my order. Obviously the don’t expect the pedals to be available at all.
